CHAPTER XV.
Although I loved Monsieur de Villardin sincerely, and left my interestin his heart in a very precarious state, yet I acknowledge that I wasdelighted to ride away from the Pr?s Vall?e. Ever since the death ofMonsieur de Mesnil, a gloom had fallen over the place, of which Icould not divest it for a moment. These sensations would probably haveworn away in a few days, although I began to think more seriouslyabout human life than I formerly did, had not Monsieur de Villardinseemed to feel so deeply upon the subject himself. His regret andmelancholy were a constant excitement to my own; and though, ofcourse, the feelings that I experienced were far less poignant thanhis, and no other internal torment was added to the awful memorieswhich oppressed me, yet the cloud that overcast his days shadowed minealso; and the sight of all the little traits which revealed howpainfully he remembered the death of the Count, constantly recalled tomy mind the share that I also had taken therein.
Besides this, my mind was fretted and annoyed at beholding continuallythe anxieties, suspicions, and cares, to which Monsieur de Villardinmade himself a prey; the destruction of an amiable woman's happiness,and the misery of a man I loved. I have said fretted and annoyed,because latterly a degree of impatience, which sometimes almostmastered my respect, had mingled with the grief that the sight of sucha state of things had first occasioned in my bosom. From all thesecauses, my feelings, instead of being painful, were joyful in a highdegree, on quitting the scenes which, a few months before, hadappeared to me so beautiful and peaceful that I had fancied I coulddwell in them for ever; and each mile as I rode on seemed to take moreand more of the load from off my heart.
It was the morning of a bright and beautiful day in spring; and as Isuppose that there are few people who do not feel themselves happierwhen the aspect of the world is cheerful around them, the pleasure Iexperienced in getting away from scenes of discomfort and pain wasaugmented by the warm sunshine and the clear sky. The thirst ofnovelty, too, still fresh upon me, made me feel delighted with thejourney; and the hope that this change in our dwelling wouldultimately lead to a change in the general chain of events, had nosmall share in the joy with which I set out. The truth was, thatthough I had certainly met with a sufficient stock of adventures sinceI had lived with Monsieur de Villardin to occupy my time abundantly,yet they had not been (if I except those which occurred during thefirst few weeks) of a kind that at all suited my disposition.Enterprise of almost any sort I liked and enjoyed; but the excitementwhich I had lately felt was of a gloomy and of a sombre character,which saddened without satisfying--oppressed, but did not please me.Now, however, I anticipated other scenes and other pleasures; andthough in truth I had not the slightest reason to suppose that anyalteration would really take place, yet fancy can always supplyabundance of materials for the architecture of hope; and as Ijourneyed on, I gave imagination full scope to work her will, inbuilding up gay edifices in the distant prospect.
Nothing occurred to amuse or interest me in the course of my journeyexcept the simple change of scenery; but as the country through whichwe passed was very beautiful, and the season one which shows off theloveliness of nature to the greatest advantage, what between fairobjects flitting before my eyes as I rode along, and gay dreams risingup in my own bosom, the road did not seem long, nor the time tedious.It was night when we reached the Ch?teau of Dumont, and as the gossipof the one ch?teau had been, of course, regularly transmitted to theother, by the servants and messengers that were continually passing toand fro between them, I found that the two or three domestics by whomthe house was at this time tenanted, were prepared to receive me withevery sort of deference and respect, having heard that I was anespecial favourite with their lord, and that he had declared heregarded me as his own son.
The next morning, at breakfast, I was visited by the intendant, anddelivered to him the letters with which I was charged, and which heproceeded to read in my presence. After asking me for someexplanations, in regard to the Duke's will, on two or three pointswhich did not appear very clear to him, he added, "Here is one letter,monsieur, referring to yourself alone, and as I suppose you are wellacquainted with the contents, I have only to say, that I shall be veryhappy to accompany you immediately."
I assured him, in reply, that I was perfectly ignorant of his meaning,as I had not been before aware that his lord had written anythingconcerning me at all.
"The Duke orders me here," said the intendant in reply, laying beforeme the letter he had just opened, "to put you in possession of thelands and houses of Juvigny, which, he says, he ceded to you, by adeed of gift, about two months ago. If, therefore, you are inclined totake possession this morning, I shall have much pleasure in walkingdown with you, and formally making over to you the lands, as well aspointing out the boundaries of the farm and the dependencies thereuntoattached."
It is not to be supposed that so young and new a proprietor as myselfwould be very unwilling to see and take possession of the firstproperty he ever had in his life; and, thanking the intendant, whom Ibegan to look upon as a very civil person indeed, I willingly agreedto accompany him to my territory of Juvigny. As the place itself andthe road that conducted thither are memorable in my little history, onmany accounts, I must be permitted to describe that morning's walk,step by step, as we proceeded.
We set out, then, about half-past nine, and took our way across abroad terrace, which extended in front of the ch?teau, and which, ateither extremity, sloped away into a fine road, broad enough foreither horses or carriages. In front, however, it was supported by aperpendicular stone facing of about six feet high, at the bottom ofwhich lay an extensive flower-garden, reached by a wide flight of tensteps; and, beyond the garden, again extended a fine park, laid out inwalks and alleys, containing about three square miles of ground, oneither side of a deep and rapid river, which, passing between highbanks, took its way, through the midst of the estate, towards the sea,at which it arrived without mingling its waters with any other stream.Across this river the various paths, with which the park wasintersected, were carried over a number of bridges, built in very goodtaste, some of stone and some of wood, as the character of the sceneimmediately around seemed to require. Over one of these, whichconsisted of a light wooden arch, the intendant and myself took ourway, after having passed through the flower-garden and a considerablepart of the park. This direction, I found, was followed, in order tocut across a bend in the river; for, after issuing forth through apostern door into the country beyond the park, we again crossed thestream by another bridge, and proceeded along its course, pursuing apath which wound in and out through a scene of mingled rock and woodas wild and varied as ever I beheld.
As we proceeded along this road, which we followed for about half amile, the intendant informed me that the little farm of which I wasnow the master had been bought by Monsieur de Villardin, on the deathof the last proprietor, lest it should at any time fall into the handsof people who might render its proximity to his park an annoyance tohim. We soon after reached our boundary, and, having called at theM?tairie, where I was formally introduced to the farmer and put inpossession of my new property, we went round the limits, whichwere much more extensive than I had expected, and returned by thedwelling-house of the old Lords of Juvigny, which consisted of a smallfeudal tower, with modern offices on the same scale, perched upon ahigh bank overhanging the water, and commanding a beautiful prospectdown the valley through which the river wandered.
While the intendant was busy opening the door, which, from having hadentirely its own way for several years, seemed very unwilling to giveadmission to a new lord, I asked the good farmer, who had followed uson our round, what was the extensive grey building which I observedabout a quarter of a mile farther down on the other bank of thestream. He replied, in a patois which I could scarcely make out, thatit was a convent of Ursuline nuns, to whom a great part of the groundon the opposite side of the river belonged.
I answered, that I was glad to hear that I was to have such goodneighbou
rs; and, following the intendant, who had by this time openedthe door, I was inducted into my house, which afforded a much greaterpromise of warmth and comfort in the inside, than had been given byits external appearance.
The worthy intendant showed me over every part of it; and when he haddone, he added, "You have now seen the whole of the estate, sir, whichbeing--as I understand the Duke--conferred upon you in full, gives youevery seigneural privilege, comprising droits de moulin, et decolombier, d'eau, et de four."
As I turned away quite satisfied with all these fine rights, of milland dove-cot, water and oven, I observed a slight smile pass betweenthe intendant and the farmer; and as I did not affect to observe it,the honest countryman explained it by a question which he asked mycompanion in one of those horse whispers which may be heard distinctlyat a mile.
"Is he a boy, really," asked the farmer, grinning, "or a little man?"The intendant made no reply, but enjoined silence by holding up one ofhis fingers; and, walking gravely after me, showed me the samedeferential respect which he had formerly put on, and at which I couldplainly see he had been laughing in his sleeve. I was nettled a gooddeal, I confess; for though I did not, in truth, feel myself at allwhat the world calls a boy, I had not the slightest wish to assume anystation but that which was my due. At the same time, I am well aware,and was so even at the time, that the habit of mingling with mankind,and the fact of having passed all my early years in gatheringknowledge of the world instead of poring over grammars anddictionaries, had given a sort of decision and promptitude to mymanners, which, coupled with my juvenile appearance, might well winfor me the character of a conceited little fellow from those who sawno farther. However, as I have said, I was nettled at finding that therespect with which the intendant had been treating me, and which wasrather suspicious from its profoundness, was nothing but a mockery;and had any occasion for venting my irritation occurred at the time, Imight have done so with a vehemence which most probably would haveamused him and rendered myself ridiculous. A little reflection, as wewalked on, took the anger, and consequently the absurdity, out of myfeelings; and, remembering that it was very likely that the worthyintendant might attempt to treat me as a conceited boy in moneymatters also, I resolved to show him that I was fully aware of my ownsituation.
"Of course, Monsieur l'Intendant," said I, as we again entered thepark, "you will continue to receive the rents of the farm, and paythem into the hands of Monsieur de Villardin; for though he has beenkind enough to bestow it upon me, I am well aware that my youth andinexperience of such matters utterly incapacitate me to manage itmyself. I know, too, that, as a foreigner, I cannot exercise any ofthe rights you mentioned just now, without higher permission, which,however, the Duke has already promised to solicit for me; and,doubtless, it will be granted long before I am qualified by age tomake use of it."
The intendant opened his eyes half an inch wider at a discourse which,I am sure, he did not expect; and, as I thought over the business, Iproceeded:--"One thing, however, I will ask you on my own account;which is, to seek me out a good tenant for the house, and the field inwhich it stands; as the one is overgrown with weeds, and the other isvery likely to get out of repair. But, at the same time, it isabsolutely necessary that the tenant should be one who is agreeable toMonsieur de Villardin. If you can find such a person as I describe,who will be attentive to and careful of the place in which he dwells,the advantage of having the house kept from dilapidation will, ofcourse, induce you to let him have the dwelling for a certain timewithout rent, and the land at the lowest value of the ground."
Whether the intendant did or did not conceive a better opinion of mefrom this discourse, I can hardly tell; for he was one of those men,so often met with, who, with an air of profound respect, have at thesame time a slight smile hanging ever about the corners of theirmouths, which casts a sneering expression over their wholecountenance. I gave myself very little further care upon the subject,indeed; for though the people on whom nature or habit has inflictedsuch a look are always hated--because, without having a pretext forresenting it, we perceive that they are insulting us in their ownhearts--yet he was always civil, and never afforded me the slightestpretence for anger, either by his demeanour or his actions. It wastherefore, of course, my wisest policy to think as little as possibleof what I could not remedy.
At the end of a week, Monsieur de Villardin and the whole householdmade their appearance; and the bustle of taking possession of theirnew abode concealed for the first day any changes that had occurred.When all the arrangements were over, however, I began to see a markedand unpleasant difference. Monsieur de Villardin was something morethan grave and gloomy; he was abstracted, and at times fierce; and itwas evident that the internal irritation of his feelings made himperceive subject of offence in things the most simple and harmless.
To me he was certainly as kind as he could be; but still there was adifference there also. He often spoke to me gently, evenaffectionately, of my circumstances and my future prospects; treatedme in most respects as his son; made me dine with himself and Madamede Villardin; but he never referred to the events which had takenplace at the Pr?s Vall?e. I saw, too, that, on the excuse of notlooking upon me any longer in the light of a page, but rather as oneof his own family, the familiar intercourse which I had held with himwas in a great degree denied to myself and permitted to another; andthat Gaspard de Belleville was closeted with him for hours every day.Of course, this did not please me; for although I trusted to my ownconduct to maintain the good opinion of the Duke, yet, with the commonweakness of human nature, I did not like that his confidence should begiven to another, though it had often been painful to myself. I knewvery well that my behaviour, though it might not have gratified hisjealousy by admitting suspicions I believed to be false, would commandhis esteem more than that of Gaspard, who, probably, was morecomplacent--but who is there so strong and philosophic in heart, as tovalue esteem more than affection? I saw clearly, and I saw it withregret, that Monsieur de Villardin's love was likely to be given tohim who pampered the weakness under which he laboured, rather than tohim who tried to clear away suspicions, which, however detrimental tohimself, were too firmly rooted to be eradicated without pain.
As some compensation, however, I found that my place in the regard ofthe Duchess was becoming higher each day; and as Monsieur deVillardin, on his arrival at Dumont, had desired me to attend upon herin her walks and drives, not as a page, but as her companion,--I wasbut fourteen, be it remembered,--and as her guard in case of danger, Ihad continually the means of cultivating her good opinion. Her spiritsby this time were so depressed, that all the gay levity of mannerwhich I had formerly remarked, was gone; and, grave, sad, andthoughtful, she took her daily walk through the park, accompanied bymyself and her little girl; sometimes endeavouring to amuse herself bytalking to me of England, and of the scenes that I had gonethrough--sometimes moved to a smile at my boyish pranks with thebeautiful child that ran on beside us--but still relapsing intomelancholy the moment that the evanescent light was gone. Never by anychance did she refer to her husband's behaviour towards her; thoughonce, when she seemed more than usually depressed, her words and hermanner made me think she was going to do so.
"You have greatly won Monsieur de Villardin's confidence and esteem,"she said, after some previous conversation during one of our walks;"and I very well perceive that hereafter that esteem will be muchincreased. Now, Monsieur Hall," she proceeded, speaking with aconsiderable degree of emotion, "I have a favour to ask you, and apromise to exact from you. Of course, no woman in my situation cancount upon life for more than three or four months, with any degree ofconfidence. Should I die, then, in the course of the event which is tobefal me,--which I think more than probable,--as you will grow up tomanhood with my children, and possess their father's confidence, willyou promise me to be to them as a brother, to defend them with yourwhole heart and strength, by hand and voice, against any one thatwould wrong them; and never to forget to uphold their cause wheneveryou hear them a
ssailed? Will you promise me this, upon your word ofhonour as a loyal Englishman and the son of a good soldier?"
"That I will, madam, and that I do," replied I: "even had you notasked it, I would have done so. But I now bind myself by everything Ihold dear, in case--amongst the many changes of the world, which havelaid my own hearth desolate, and given my father's house tostrangers--they should ever require such weak aid as mine, I will giveit to them with my whole heart and soul, and show as much zeal intheir cause as if I were their brother."
I purposely made my promise as strong in point of language as I coulddevise, because I clearly saw, by the agitation of the Duchess whileshe spoke, that her husband's late conduct towards herself had excitedin her bosom many a fearful apprehension in regard to the fateof her children. Hope, I have heard, will catch at straws; andcertainly--though in the wide range of probability it was possible Imight ultimately be able to render the services she required--thereappeared but little likelihood of my assistance being of much avail:yet nevertheless my zealous promise seemed to relieve her mindgreatly; and as I made it, I saw the tears, which had been crowding tothe gates of her eyes while she herself had spoken, now burst forthand roll over her cheeks.
"Thank you, thank you!" she replied: "I know that your promise willnot be forgotten, and therefore I shall never mention the subject toyou again, but rely in all confidence upon your word:" and so saying,she led the way back towards the ch?teau.
The Little Ball O' Fire; or, the Life and Adventures of John Marston Hall Page 15